Retailers optimistic about holiday profits

The manager of the Target store in the CenterPlace Shopping Center near 47th Avenue and U.S. 34 Bypass, Rohman said the traditional first busy day of Christmas shopping had been going at a hectic pace since the store opened at 6 a.m.

“It’s maddening here, but it’s been really fun,” she said.

She said the stream of customers remained steady throughout the morning.

“It’s been an amazing first day, and we think it’s going to stay that way,” Rohman said.

Lin Birney, manager of the J.C. Penney Co. Inc. outlet in The Greeley Mall said she was also happy with the first day of Christmas shopping.

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“This is the first time we’ve opened at 5:30 in the morning, and we had a lot of people here early. But I think the weather may have had something to do with that. When it’s cold, people tend to come out and shop. We’ve been very, very busy,” she said.

Penney’s was among the big retailers that reduced prices early this year, and Birney said that probably had an effect on Friday’s shoppers.

“But that might make people wait and hope prices go down more,” Birney said. While that may happen, “you won’t see the selection that’s available now,” she added.

Retailers such as Birney, Rohman and others are hoping that red-hot sales will carry them through the year.

Sales in November and December make up 25 to 40 percent of retailers’ annual sales, reports the Washington, D.C.-based trade group National Retail Federation, which projects holiday sales will hit $219.9 billion this year.

That’s a 4.5 percent increase from last year, the federation reported.

“I think it’s going to be better than last year,” Birney said.

Rich Green, manager of the Sears, Roebuck and Co. store in the mall, agreed.

“I would anticipate it’s going to be a pretty good year,” Green said of his store, which had people standing in line waiting for the 5 a.m. opening.

Jerry Rios, manager of the Dillard’s stores in The Greeley Mall, and said he was pleased with Friday’s crowds.

“We opened at 7 this morning, and there seemed to be people in the stores all day, so things have been pretty fair,” he said, adding he hopes that the trend continues as Christmas nears and that sales surpass last year.